The next few days at school felt strange for Neli. She couldn't stop thinking about that moment when her eyes met Rana's, when the world had momentarily paused around them. It was foolish, she told herself. But she still found herself looking for him between classes, wondering if he felt it too.
Then, it happened.
Neli was hurrying down the hallway, her hands full with books, when she rounded the corner too quickly. She collided straight into someone. The books scattered, falling to the floor in a chaotic mess.
"Sorry!" she blurted, bending down to gather the pages. But when she looked up, there he was.
Rana.
He was already kneeling beside her, a soft laugh escaping his lips. "You always in such a rush, huh?" he teased, his voice warm. His hand brushed against hers as they both reached for the same book.
Neli's heart raced again. She smiled awkwardly, feeling a flush rise in her cheeks. "Guess I'm not as graceful as I thought," she said, trying to make light of the moment.
Rana's smile lingered, his eyes meeting hers again. "It's fine. We've all been there."
As they stood up, he handed her the last book, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. There was no mistaking it. The spark betwe
en them was real.